Newsletter: Thumbs up for Coastal GasLink

Thumbs up for Coastal GasLink

The raised thumbs were those of Facebook emoticons, used by readers of our two latest blogs, to express their support for the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

And to express their confidence in a successful crossing, in a micro-tunnel 11 metres under the riverbed, of the Morice River in BC (as illustrated above.)

Our first blog (on January 3) was this: Putting pipelines safely under rivers: See how Coastal GasLink plans to run its natural-gas pipeline beneath the Morice River (Wedzin Kwa) in BC. http://ow.ly/Ur3S50HlMPU

That was read by more than 12,600 people, was shared 50 times, and drew 237 comments.

We noted that, of those who used Facebook’s clickable emoticon symbols, 76.5% gave the blog a thumbs-up sign, and another 3.6% a love-heart. Some 17.8% signalled anger, 3.9% gave it a laugh, 1.5% signalled sadness and 1.5% gave it a “Wow!” symbol.

It wasn’t always correctly read, though: The first paragraph explicitly spoke of Coastal GasLink’s ‘natural-gas pipeline’ — but a surprising number of readers took it to be an oil pipeline, and protested that it (and oil) should be abandoned.

Some expressed fears that the pipeline would, at some point, be converted to carry oil.

For the record, such a conversion is banned by law, and by contract with First Nations.

And why would anyone plan to move oil to Kitimat, anyway, when there is a federal ban on oil tanker movement in northwestern BC waters including Kitimat and Douglas Channel? LNG carriers will be permitted, but not oil tankers. There is thus neither need nor reason to move oil to Kitimat, while the Trans Mountain pipeline and its TMX expansion will carry oil, for domestic use and export, from Edmonton to tidewater at Burnaby.

And one comment on the blog pointed out: “Any change would require a full environmental review process, it’ll never happen.”

We followed up with a second blog on January 13. In it, we noted this:

“The advanced “micro-tunneling” technique planned by Coastal GasLink under the river is a proven method of using a remote-controlled tunnel-boring machine, and then hydraulic jacks to push concrete casing segments through the tunnel deep under the river bed. The pipeline is then safely pulled through the tunnel created by the concrete casing, and grouted in place. There would be no impact on the river itself, or the water, or fish. And the crossing project is monitored by First Nations people.”

This second blog was read by just over 7,000 people, and drew 171 comments and 39 shares.

Thumbs-up was again the verdict, at 75% (plus 5% love-hearts). The anger symbol scored 14%, and there were four laugh emoticons, two Wows, and one sadness symbol.

We also shared several posts from Coastal GasLink on the river-crossing methodology and how  CFGL has safely and successfully tunnelled its line beneath other BC rivers:

Outreach session Wednesday January 26

Our next online Outreach session is scheduled as above. Do join us from 11:45am to 1 pm PST. You can register here, free: https://bit.ly/3oAaXe4

Is an iPAD yours?

Our Diversity and Inclusion Outreach team at the Alliance is conducting a survey among members of the 20 First Nations along the Coastal GasLink pipeline route.

If you’re a member of one of those nations, you could win an iPad by filling in our questionnaire here: http://ow.ly/EmVR50HvnCt The deadline is March 10.

  • The Alliance is also beginning work on a series of videos about the benefits of LNG projects and associated pipeline development. Have you got a story to tell about how these have benefited you, or your community, or your company? Can we share it in a little video? Please let us know, by email to outreach@fnlngalliance.com

ALSO IN THE NEWS

  • The first giant pre-fabricated module of the LNG Canada project is en route by sea from China to Kitimat: http://ow.ly/HjTK50Hyck0. See also: http://ow.ly/YsvJ50HyczN
  • BC’s Environmental Assessment Office expects the Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG to submit in February its application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate:  http://ow.ly/RPaY50HxhJZ
  • Tilbury LNG plant in Delta moves to environmental assessment phase: http://ow.ly/kEaa50Hwx6y
  • Petronas’s green future includes this: ‘Our LNG Canada project is expected to produce lower emissions than any plant in the world.’ http://ow.ly/UUYZ50HsLRb
  • Reality: Most of the ‘subsidies’ activists identify as given to Canadian natural-gas and LNG firms are actually temporary tax deductions soon paid back: http://ow.ly/2FBE50HsmJb
  • BC is uniquely positioned to supply natural gas to Asian markets, and development of the industry can produce jobs at home and lower emissions:  http://ow.ly/Ig3j50HqghA

DATES

  • Registration is open for the two-day hybrid (in-person and online) conference of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, April 25-26. You can register here (free for Indigenous communities): http://ow.ly/5OoP50GKXKA
  • And coming up May 26-27 is the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase 2022, a hybrid event hosted by the Resource Works Society and supported by the Alliance: https://indigenoussuccess.ca/

And to close, this invitation: LNG Canada and prime contractor JGC Fluor offer tuition-free training to help women start—and succeed—in the skilled trades. Apply now for sessions starting in April. Learn more: https://yourplace.mywbf.ca

(Posted here 22 January 2022)

First Nations LNG Alliance Newsletter